November Musings: The bittersweet start to the Christmas Season
(Originally written in November 2024, with reflections added in November 2025)
In November, there’s a noticeable change in the air. The streets start to shimmer with twinkling lights, chocolate shops fill their windows with festive treats, and Heart radio starts playing all the classics. The signs are undeniable – Christmas is just around the corner.
For many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a season of joy, filled with Christmas parties, family gatherings, laughter, and a chance to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s a time to relive those cherished childhood memories of excitement, magic, and wonder.
But for others, this season also brings a sense of sadness and longing. For us, the Schoeman family, this is still a tender and challenging time. This will be our third Christmas without our beloved Sia. The hole left by her absence feels especially deep during this season. Christmas was always filled with so much joy, and now it’s bittersweet, a mix of gratitude for the memories we hold and sorrow for the ones we can no longer make.
We know we’re not alone in this. For some, the holidays amplify the ache of missing a loved one. For others, it’s the sting of loneliness or the weight of financial and mental struggles. The very season that promises light and joy can feel overwhelming when your heart is heavy.
Yet, in the midst of this, Christmas remains a time of hope. The birth of Christ reminds us of God’s love – a love so deep it entered our broken world to bring light into our darkness. For those of us grieving, lonely, or struggling, this love can be a source of comfort. It’s not about having a perfect Christmas; it’s about finding moments of peace, joy, and connection amidst the imperfections. So, as the season begins, let’s hold space for both the excitement and the sorrow. Let’s celebrate with those who are rejoicing and extend kindness to those who may be quietly hurting. Whether it’s sharing a meal, checking in with someone who might feel alone, or simply offering a smile to a stranger, let’s remember the heart of Christmas – love, compassion, and hope for all.
To those celebrating with full hearts, treasure every moment. And to those grieving, struggling, or simply holding on, know that you are seen, loved, and never truly alone.
A Year Later: Hope Renewed (November 2025)
This year reminds us just how much can change in twelve months. Life continues to surprise us in ways that bring both tears and joy. For our family, amidst the ongoing ache of missing Sia, we’ve been given an unexpected gift: the joy of new life. We are expecting a baby, and with that comes a renewed sense of hope for the future.
Through every season, whether marked by sorrow or celebration, God’s goodness has never wavered. His faithfulness is constant, and we’ve learned again that it is always worth trusting him. The joy of knowing Jesus truly outweighs every hardship this life hands out. He is our anchor, our comfort, and our reason to rejoice.
So, as we step into this Christmas season, we do so with hearts that hold both grief and gratitude. We give thanks for the memories, for the hope ahead, and most of all, for the Saviour whose birth changed everything. May his love and light fill your heart this season, no matter what it holds.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ( 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Johan, Ester and Caden Schoeman